Kerala’s Ranji Trophy squad for the upcoming season boasts a blend of experience and fresh talent, with three newcomers earning their spots. Sanju Samson is set to lead the team, supported by opener Rohan Kunnummal as his vice- captain.
Among the new faces, Krishna Prasad, known for his impact in shorter formats, gets a chance to prove himself in the longer version of the game. Joining him are left-handed batsman Anand Krishnan and wicketkeeper-batsman Vishnu Raj.
The squad sees the return of the dynamic middle-order batsman Vishnu Vinod, while seasoned players Sachin Baby and Rohan Prem retain their spots. Notably, Sijomon Joseph, the left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, misses out due to an ongoing injury. The team also features professional guest players Jalaj Saxena and Shreyas Gopal.
P Prasanth, Chief Selector of the Kerala Cricket Association, emphasized the squad’s balance, tailored for the demands of longer-format cricket. Unfortunately, Sijomon Joseph’s absence due to injury was unavoidable.
Kerala’s Ranji campaign kicks off on January 5 at the SB College ground in Alappuzha against Uttar Pradesh. Subsequently, they face an away fixture against Assam in Guwahati a week later.
The team, guided by new coach M Venkataramana, aims to bounce back after falling short in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 and Vijay Hazare one-day tournaments. Venkataramana is keen to leave his mark by steering the squad to the semifinals of the prestigious Ranji Trophy, marking a successful tenure at the helm.